News, articles and documents from
the Holy Land
Issue No. 124 - Saturday, 22 December 2001
Dear Friends, Brothers
and Sisters,
The last days before Christmas are always
very busy, because we try to finalize the last preparations for Bethlehem
Celebrations. Also this year I send you in the below document the details of
what will happen in Bethlehem during the 24th & 25th according
to the “Status Quo” regulations.
Yesterday, the Patriarch celebrated a
mass in the Shepherds Grottos in Beit Sahour for the Arab Educational Institute
which is affiliated to Pax Christi International. The Mass was attended by members
of the Institute, both Moslems and Christians, and this years, we invited many
other personalities responsible of the several NGOs in Bethlehem area,
including the Governor and the Mayer of Beit Jala, because we wanted after the
mass to announce the initiative of the Peace & Justice March from Bethlehem
to Jerusalem, during the dinner which was offered to more than 100 persons. We
were very happy that all of them supported the idea of the March and promised
to take part in it and encourage other to join also. During the mass several
prayers, support letter and good wishes sent by many friends from all over the
world, were read and hanged on a Christmas tree. The atmosphere of the Shepherds
Grottos of Beit Sahour, reminded us of the time of Jesus and the story of the
Gospel… We really spent a wonderful time in the simplicity of that place.
Everybody is asking whether President
Arafat will attend the Midnight Mass in Bethlehem or not, especially after the
news which say that the Israelis will not allow him out of Ramallah these days.
Many are asking what is the position and the reaction of the churches? Let me
share with you the following simple and personal ideas about this: 1) We are
really astonished from this behavior and we hope that they will not insist on
it, because Mr. Arafat is the elected president of the Palestinian people both
Moslems and Christians, and it is really very strange that a symbol of a whole
nation, recognized by the whole world will be treated like this. 2) Even if he
will not come he will be more present in his absence since this will be the
best indication of how they deal with the whole Palestinian people, if they do
this with the president, what they can do with the poor simple people?
Therefore, we say that he has not to be there in order to be present, even if
he used to come every year since the arrival of the Palestinian Authority to Bethlehem
in 1994. 3) As the Patriarch said yesterday in Beit Sahour: the road from Bethlehem
and to Bethlehem are road for peace not for war, because in this city was born
the Prince of Peace our Lord Jesus Christ, therefore, forbidding the president
from coming, closing these road by checkpoints, invading the city with Israeli
Tanks as they did last month will not and never help to build peace, because
the coming of the President to Bethlehem will be the best sign of his deep
desire and the of the Palestinian People of peace and justice not only for the Palestinians
but also for the Israelis and in the whole country… Therefore we say, don’t
block the roads for peace but open your heard and mind for justice.
You will se in today’s Olive Branch the following
documents which might help you to know more about the atmosphere of Christmas
in the Holy Land and in Bethlehem:
1)
A Christmas Message
2001, by Bishop Dr. Munib A. Younan, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan
and Palestine. It is very interesting, because is an actual reading of the
Gospel of the Nativity with a practical application on the current situation.
2)
What will happen
tomorrow in Bethlehem? (Details about Christmas ceremonies taken from the
“Status Quo”).
3)
In her “Jerusalem
Journal # 41”, Sister Mary, is telling us a very interesting and moving story
from life: "Rough Road to my Bethlehem Manger"
4)
If you ask what are
our children’s wishes during Christmas and the coming year? Dr. Mary Khoury
will give us an answer in here "Children's Wishes from Aboud”.
And my wishes
for Christmas and the new year, you know it very well, and my wishes for your
all are true inner happiness with optimistic vision for a brilliant future. I
will not disturb you during the next week, but I will only send you in real
time, the Patriarch’s Homily during the Midnight Mass in Bethlehem. I will
return back to you with more stories next Saturday to update you about the
March from Bethlehem to Jerusalem.
Have a Blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year. Fr. Raed Abusahlia
Christmas Message 2001
Bishop Dr. Munib A. Younan
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and Palestine
http://www.holyland-lutherans.org 21 December, 2001.
”And His name shall be Immanuel, God with
us.” (Matthew 1:23)
Dear sisters and
brothers in Christ,
As I this year,
once again, review the story of the nativity of our Lord I am surprised to note
that the world then, was not much different from ours. We see how ordinary
people are made to feel the might of those in power:
Joseph and Mary were ordered to go from Nazareth to register in Bethlehem. Today the order is to stay were you are. Our people are confined to remain in the areas where they live. Very few are allowed to move in or out of Bethlehem these days.
The Holy family did not find a place to overnight. In today’s Bethlehem we find people, who have no place to spend the nights. Some have had their own homes destroyed by shells and cannot live there any longer. The many hotels and restaurants in Bethlehem have been closed several months ago, leaving people jobless without employment, and bread on their tables.
Herod, the king,
was eager to protect his power. For security reasons he therefore gave the
order to kill civilian children. He thought that violence is the only way to
security. Our world has many Herod’s, who think that they can protect their
nations and interests by violence, or change the world by the use of arms, or
remain in power by killing others, and achieve security by the use of the
Cobra, the Apache or the F16.
These days we also better
understand why the Magi from the East had to find an alternative route when
leaving Bethlehem. For their own safety they had to bypass the checkpoints in
order not to be harassed or detained by soldiers.
The Holy family
was forced to flee to Egypt. Today many Palestinian Christians seek refuge in
other countries due to the unstable political situation.
The birth of
Jesus in Bethlehem is certainly not a sweet, romantic story, far removed from
the harsh realities of life.
One of the
Palestinian youth asked: “Where is God hiding? Didn’t we learn in Sunday school
that God is powerful? Didn’t we learn that He can always change things and hear
the cries of the oppressed? Where is He?”
I am grateful to
my God that His work in history is not like the way of the mighty of this
world! Thank God, that He is
involved in a different way. When looking at this world and all the insanity
that is going on, He assures us: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my
Spirit, says the Lord.” (Zech 4:6).
The way God choose was to become human like us and to be born in
Bethlehem in the midst of turmoil, violence and hopelessness. I am grateful to
my God that He incarnated in a manger peacefully, and that amidst all the noise
of the world, the angels carried a new message:” Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace among those whom He favours.” (Luke 2:14).
The birth of
Jesus in Bethlehem has certainly changed our world, and I am still confident that
it will change it still today:
It has returned
humanity to people, who have lost their humanity. They are to learn that
humanity is the gift of God to all of us. Those who are seeking power must know
that they are called to care for humanity and not for power. They are to see
the God given humanity in their neighbours and enemies. They should allow every
human being to enjoy life, with its full rights as God intended them to be, and
not as political leaders want them to be. Our humanity was restored by the child in the manger. Christmas
reminds us to be human.
The incarnation
of Christ has made all ethnic differences irrelevant. The simple Palestinian
shepherds and the well-educated Magi from the East, maybe Iran, could meet
around the Babe of Bethlehem. The gap between people, whether from the East, or
the West, from the North or the South was bridged on the first Christmas. For this reason, Paul writes: “In
Christ, there is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free,
there is no longer male or female, For all of you are one in Jesus Christ.”
(Gal 3:29)
Are we ready in
this terrible situation to transcend all boundaries that are separating us
human beings because we are perceived as being different and dangerous? Are we
ready to do what all we can to bridge the existing gap? Is it not time we take
the incarnated Saviour seriously? Or is Christmas just celebrated to make
Christians feel good? As believers
in the incarnation we are called to challenge our world to transcend divisions,
to respect all nations – small or big – and to see God in the followers of the
three monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
This Christmas
is the time for us to meditate in front of the Child in the manger and ask
ourselves: What will fill the
hearts of the future generations who are to inherit our land from us? Will it
be hatred, or will it be mutual respect and co-existence? I am afraid that the culture of rage,
which is permeating our societies, has developed bitterness, fear, hatred and
anger. Children in Bethlehem and Gaza, as well as in Tel Aviv and Petah Tikva,
are all playing games of shooting between Palestinians and Israelis. It is now
time for us all to stop for a while and ask ourselves: Is this what we want for
our children? Is this what Israeli and Palestinian mothers and fathers want?
This is the
reason that we call for a time of self-criticism and repentance. Now is the
time for all of us to repent, to change our ways and attitudes. We are all
called to make a U-turn, away from the hatred and violence that separates us,
back to the mutual respect and coexistence that brings us together.
By doing this we
can begin to move towards forgiveness and reconciliation. Forgiveness is not
merely an emotional thing. It means to be willing and free to change
one’s mind and act for just peace and reconciliation. Forgiveness means to see
God in the enemy, and to accept the otherness of the other and thus mutually
recognize each other’s human, civil, religious, and political rights. In the
end there will no other way out of the conflict. We all need to realize that
the two sides in this conflict are mutually dependant of each other. The
security of Israel depends on the liberation of the Palestinians. In the same
way the independence of the Palestinians depends on the security of Israel.
I ask my Lord in
the manger, while kneeling before Him, in full repentance: Lord, make the good
life of justice, security, and reconciliation possible for all of us here in
the land were you became human. Lord of peace and good will, put an end to
bloodshed, violence, and war.
Allow all our children, Israeli and Palestinian, to experience just
peace, a secure future, and the power of forgiveness and love.
We are indeed very
grateful to be surrounded by your prayers. Please, continue to pray for us –
and increase your Vigil Prayers - that the dream of forgiveness, reconciliation
and just peace may be realized next year in the land of the Incarnation.
I wish you
all a Peaceful Christmas and a Blessed New Year.
Your brother in
Christ
+ Munib A.
Younan, the Lutheran
Bishop in Jerusalem
What
will happen tomorrow in Bethlehem?
(Details about Christmas ceremonies taken from the “Status Quo”)
Monday, 24th December 2000
12.00 p.m.
The Parish priest of Jerusalem accompanied by more than fifty major
personalities come to the Latin Patriarchate to meet the Patriarch, and after a
short speech from the Mukhtar of Jerusalem, and another from the Patriarch,
they all take their cars and join the procession to Bethlehem. The meaning of
this is that the people of Jerusalem, Christians and Moslems, accompany the
Patriarch in go with him to Bethlehem. Actually they go by cars but
traditionally by horses.
12.30 p.m.
His Beatitude the Latin Patriarch, accompanied by clergy, leaves the Latin
Patriarchate of Jerusalem for the square opposite the Citadel in Jaffa Gate
where they collect their cars for the procession to Bethlehem. The procession
proceeds from the Citadel via Jaffa Gate. Ophthalmic Hospital, Upper Bala’a,
Bethlehem Road, and then to Tomb of Rachel. Two police cares (one in front of
the procession and the other behind it) will escort the procession from the
Citadel to Mar Elias.
Normally the parish priest of Beit Jala accompanied by the mayor and many personalities of the city come to Mar Elias to welcome the Patriarch and join the procession from Mar Elias Convent to the Manger Square, His Beatitude is escorted now by four mounted constables and one police sergeant. The meaning of this is that the Patriarch take a short time of rest at the borders of Beit Jala used to reach Mar Elias Convent, and the people of Beit Jala come to welcome the Patriarch to their City.
1.00 p.m.
This year the Israeli policemen will leave us at the Tantour Checkpoint, and we
will continue alone after the Tomb of Rachel, where His Beatitude is welcomed
by representatives of the Municipalities and parishes of Bethlehem, Beit Jala
and Beit Sahour, who then join the procession to Bethlehem. This year, when we
reach Paradise Hotel, the Palestinian Authority Policemen will welcome us and
escort the Patriarch with four mounted constables until the Manger
Square.
The procession then continues along the old Jerusalem- Bethlehem Road, to the
junction of this road with that of Ras Ifteis Road, then along the Ras Ifteis
Road and EnNijmeh Street to the Manger Square. This year, it was decided that
the Christian Scouts will march with us and play music also, because everybody
is feeling that we have to return to our normal life and express with joy this
celebration because our children need to feel that there is a feast in order to
overcome the fears and trauma of this last year.
1.30 p.m
A Latin Vested procession comes out of the Basilica of the Nativity from its
main iron door to the Manger Square where it takes position.
2,00 p.m
His Beatitude the Latin Patriarch arrives at the Manger Square, where he is
received by the Governor of Bethlehem and the Police Commandant, the Mayor and
the Municipal Councilors and notables of Bethlehem, and the Latin Clergy in
ecclesiastical vestments. His Beatitude then joins the procession, which then
proceeds to the Church of St. Catherine via the main iron door of the Basilica
of the Nativity, the Narthex, the northern side of the Basilica between the
first and second columns and through the door leading from the Basilica to St
Jerome’s Cloister, then along this to the main western door of St. Catherine
Church. When the procession arrives at the Church of St. Catherine, vespers are
chanted, after which His Beatitude retires into the Latin Convent.
4.00 p.m.
Procession, headed by His Beatitude the Patriarch or his representatives,
starts from the Church of St. Catherine and proceeds via its southern door, the
northern transept of the Basilica of the Nativity and northern staircase to the
Grotto of the Nativity, where a short service is held. At the end of this
service the procession proceeds back via the rear door to the Grotto, the
shrines leading from the Grotto to St. Catherine’s Church, where the service
ends at 5.15 p.m.
10.25 p.m
His Beatitude the Patriarch proceeds from the Latin Convent to attend Matins at
the Church of St Catherine.
10.00 p.m
Latin Matins in the Church of St Catherine begin
12.00 p.m.
The Latin Pontifical High Mass in the Church of St. Catherine starts.
N.B.
1) Members of the Consular Corps arrive to Bethlehem to attend the midnight
mass in the Church of St. Catherine. Especially the General Consuls of the four
Catholic countries: France, Italy, Spain and Belgium.
2) Shortly before midnight President Arafat accompanied by the Mayor of
Bethlehem and other civil authorities arrive to attend the Pontifical Mass of
the Patriarch. (We don’t know if he will come or not this year?!).
3) At the same time, the Latin Masses in front of the Manger in the Grotto of
the Nativity. These masses end at about 1.30 p.m. on the following day.
2.00 a.m.
The Pontifical Mass ends and begins the procession with the figure of the
Infant Jesus to the Grotto. When the procession arrives to the Grotto, the
figure of the Infant Jesus is first placed by His Beatitude on the Star of the
Nativity, and after the Gospel of the Nativity is sung and prayers are said, it
is laid by the deacon nearby manger and remains there until the Latin Epiphany…
at the end everybody sing together the song of the angels “Gloria in Excellsis
Deo”. Afterwards, the Patriarch returns to St. Catherine Church to exchange the
greetings with the civil authorities present before leaving the Church.
Tuesday 25th of December at 9.00 a.m
Latin Pontifical Mass in the Church of St Catherine starts and ends at 10.30.
2.00 p.m
His Beatitude the Latin Patriarch leaves Bethlehem from the main iron door of
the Basilica where he is met by two Police cars which will escort him to
Jerusalem, one car in front of the procession and the other behind it.
2.00 p.m.
Pilgrimage from the Church of St. Catherine to the Grotto of the Shepherds at
Beit Sahour starts. Service at the Grotto will be held for about 15 to 20
minutes, at the end of which the procession starts back to St Catherine’s
Church.
Jerusalem
Journal # 41
Sister Mary
December 22, 2001
As I sit writing
this on the evening of Dec. 22nd., one of the women from our
"Expatriate Network in Jerusalem" is in labor at a Bethlehem
hospital, and probably by the time you read this, Emma will have a new born
child in her arms. But just prior to her trip to bring new life into this
war-torn land, Emma wrote a piece which appeared in yesterday's "Christian
Science Monitor" entitled "Rough Road to my Bethlehem
Manger". In that article she speaks of her advantage of being able to
reach the hospital because she is not Palestinian. Emma is well aware of
Rihap Nufal who went into labor and tried to reach the hospital but was forced
by Israelis to wait at the checkpoint where both Rihab and her unborn child
died. Three days later Rawida El-Rashid went into labor at 7 and 1/2
months. When Rawida tried to reach the hospital, she was refused passage
by a member of the Israeli Occupation Force and had to take a 90 minute detour
across rocky fields to avoid checkpoints. The child was born on the way
and was beyond saving.
Emma tells the
story about how at 39 weeks pregnant, she had to walk through the checkpoint
where just ahead of her a young Israeli soldier refused passage to
another pregnant woman on her way to the hospital. When Emma inquired why
the other pregnant woman was not allowed through the checkpoint, the soldier
replied that he didn't know if she was really pregnant - "Everyone is fat
round here." he said.
Today I prayed
for Emma; her child is already seven days overdue, and prayed for all
other pregnant women in Palestine. I wondered what it would have been
like for Mary, if the Roman soldiers had refused her entry into Joseph's home
town because "Everyone is fat round here." I became all the more
aware that Palestine was under Roman occupation at the time of Jesus'
birth. Two thousand years later, Palestine is once again under
occupation....
One night last
week I woke up with a verse from one of the carols running through my head:
"The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee
tonight." How true this is for all the people of Bethlehem and people
elsewhere in our world. I guess it will always be that way until the Love
of God is born into each of our hearts and we welcome God into our arms and see
God's presence among us....
Children's Wishes from Aboud
By Dr. Maria C. Khoury
During this holy Christmas holiday if the children in the small village of Aboud knew I was writing about them I am sure they would extend their warmest wishes to people across the globe in celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior. Since they attend one of the most isolated Christian schools that we have in our Latin Patriarchate School System, I thought it might be interesting to share an insight into their thinking following one year of the Palestinian Uprising. They went to a lot of trouble to send their essays to our education office for the English competition with the nuns that are able to travel the checkpoints since all the Palestinians in Aboud are literally locked up in their village for several weeks now. Aboud does not even have phone lines so the method other schools used by email and fax does not work for them.
Although they don't have these modern technologies, they do have excellent teachers like Mr. Boutros Fawadleh, the hard working English teacher who always cooperates to have successful English language activities in the Aboud School. He encourages his students and gives all his efforts and talents to the school. His dedication and commitment deserves an award. The Aboud Latin Patriarchate School is also blessed to have an outstanding principal Mr. Ibrahim Hemed who for several years now has been implementing a clear educational vision with high standards in this small school. He cares to make a difference in the Aboud community by running an excellent school and demanding professionalism from his teachers. It is helpful when our students have appropriate adult role models. Although isolated, the students in Aboud tend to have wishes like the rest of the students in Palestine. The following quotations are taking from students' English Essays entitled "If I ! had one wish, my wish would be…"
My wish is to be a journalist in the future. I love this job so much because I know how much the Palestinian people suffer under the Israeli occupation especially these days. Thus I want to help them in a way that shows their pain and agony to people all over the world and to let them see what the Israelis are committing against the Palestinian people. (Rana Yacoub, 7th grade)
My wish is to be the president of the Palestinian State in the future. I want to plant peace in the Middle East first and all over the world second. I will change history. I'd like to be like Nelson Mandela who brought peace to his country South Africa. He did what he could. My slogan will be: "Stop the killing and wars in the region." (Mohammad Mofeed, 8th grade)
My most important wish is to stop killing and the acts of violence between the Israelis and Palestinians. I feel that I can't live anywhere else than my country as the proverb says: "East or West, Home is Best." So, I believe it's very important to live in safety and stability in my country. (Khaled Jamal, 8th grade)
My wish is to be a doctor in the future…as Palestinians we are in need for doctors and nurses because we are living in a war. Everyday many young people are killed and injured and they need help. I want to help them of course. (Nidal Hmeid, 8th grade)
The most important wish in my life is to have peace in the world especially in my country Palestine. I pray and ask God to grant us real peace in my country, and to make us strong to force the Israelis to get out of our land forever. I have this wish because I love Palestine very much and I love to help my people and my country always. (Iyad Nawwaf, 7th grade)
My wish is to see the Palestinian people free, safe and independent. I want all the Israelis to get out of my country and give the refugees their right of return to their homeland. Israel seized this land by force. We are staying on our land Palestine to learn and struggle against the occupation until we get our freedom and independence. Everyday the Israelis kill children, men, women, and arrest people and put them in prison. But we are determined to liberate our country by the stone… (Bnan Khalaf, 7th grade)
As you celebrate a blessed Christmas Day, please keep these children in your prayers because many like twelve-year-old Ghadeer Sayen have great faith: "I wish that peace will be born in the Middle East. I hope everybody will get all their wishes and thanks to God for everything He gives us." Another twelve-year-old Osama Sammy writes: "I am sure that with God's help, I will be able to get what I wish for the future." Please pray for Palestinian children. God listens to our prayers.
A Prayer for peace from the Franciscan tradition
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon,
Where there is doubt, faith,
Where there is despair, hope,
Where
there is darkness, light,
Where there is sadness, joy.
O, Divine Master, grant that I may seek
not so much to be consoled as to console
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love,
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen
The Pope’s Prayer at the end of His Homily in Bethlehem
O Child of Bethlehem, Son of Mary and Son of God,
Lord of all time and Prince of Peace, “the same yesterday, today and for
ever" (Heb 13:8): as we set forth into the new millennium, heal all our
wounds, strengthen our steps, open our hearts and minds to “the loving kindness
of the heart of our God who visits us like the dawn from on high" (Lk
1;78). Amen.
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Thank you for your understanding & with best wishes from
Jerusalem Fr. Raed Abusahlia |